Colorado Rejects Federal Transfer Request for Ex-County Clerk Tina Peters
In a significant move, Colorado has decided against transferring Tina Peters, a former county clerk celebrated by election conspiracy theorists, from state prison to federal custody. This decision follows a request from the Trump administration, yet state officials hold firm on their position.
The Colorado Department of Corrections confirmed its stance, stating, “Transferring an individual is an action initiated by the Colorado Department of Corrections, not an outside entity,” as per department spokesperson Alondra Gonzalez-Garcia’s email. Peters, who is currently serving a nine-year sentence in Pueblo, was convicted last year for orchestrating a scheme to breach voting machine data based on unverified claims of fraud in the 2020 election.
While the Federal Bureau of Prisons has refrained from commenting, it is known that they made the transfer request on November 12. The purpose behind this request remains unclear, as the released document was heavily redacted to protect public interest.
The case of Tina Peters has become a rallying point for those in the election conspiracy movement. Former President Donald Trump recently renewed calls for her release. A lawyer for Peters, Peter Ticktin, even proposed using military intervention to liberate her during a discussion on Steve Bannon’s podcast.
Colorado county clerks, regardless of political affiliation, have criticized Peters for increasing risks in their roles by undermining trust in the electoral process. They are pressing Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, to formally reject the federal transfer request. While a spokesperson for Polis praised the state’s election integrity and indicated a willingness to discuss the matter with the clerks, they did not explicitly address the transfer request.
“Governor Polis takes his responsibilities seriously and has been clear that he will take threats from the federal government head-on – especially when they undermine our democracy – which is why we have vigorously defended Colorado’s values during this turbulent time,” stated Shelby Wieman, Polis’ spokesperson.
Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, remarked that the final decision rests with the state corrections department, which operates under Governor Polis’ directives. “The open-ended statement from the Department of Corrections does not alleviate our concerns,” he noted.
